Chapter Text
It had been somewhere between their first and third date, that Alec had realized he had a boyfriend. A real boyfriend. If Alec wasn't quite mistaken the conversation had gone something like this.
"Oh boyfriend," Magnus's voice had called out to him from across a room.
Alec had recognized the voice, but never had that word been directed at him before. He'd done a double take, turning with his finger pointing to himself and saying "me?"
"Well yes, of course, you," Magnus had laughed. "Who else in their right might would put up with me." A huge grin on his face, Magnus had moved closer to peck Alec on the lips before moving on with whatever they'd been doing at the time.
And then somewhere between their third date and Alec's no longer keeping track, he's starting writing again, like really writing. Alec hadn't even been sure where the words and ideas had come from, but in no time he had chapters upon chapters full of a magical world full of warlocks and warriors. He had to admit that at least one of the characters was based on his boyfriend though he'd never tell his readers which one it was.
And thanks to all those words, he'd been able to quit his job at the restaurant. The day he'd found out his books would be published had been an almost out of body experience for him. The people and places he'd created had become so real to him the idea of sharing them with the world was almost overwhelming. Still worth it though. He hadn't realized then that publishing would be way less stressful than touring. Magnus had been by his side for every signing and throughout the entire tour. Alec had been reminded how blessed he was to have Magnus in his life.
Though it had been before his book tour that Alec had first learned the value of Magnus as a partner. The second office party they attended together had proved it. Magnus had spent the entire evening showing Alec off and talking about his books which at the time were just getting off the ground, no book tour in sight. Even so the pride in his voice was audible and sparked a few glares in their direction from a certain paralegal. Before the night was out she'd managed to make such a spectacle of herself that Ragnor or all people threw a drink in her face to shut her up. Alec couldn't help feeling nostalgic about the whole thing.
Camille had never once shown any signs of being happy for her ex in his new relationship, not even in a pretend way. Magnus had gotten her removed from the guest list for all the lawyer social events, so she was stuck slumming it with the other paralegals while Alec went as Magnus's plus one to all the places she wanted to be.
"Really the way she glares you'd think we'd condemned her to something horrible," Magnus would say sometimes when they noticed her. "But really the paralegal are all quite lovely, that is apart from her I suppose." Alec would always chuckle at this.
Overall though Camille rarely made it into their thoughts. It's easy to ignore others belittling when one is totally and completely happy.
It had been upon his return from tour that Alec had learned he was going to be an uncle in just a few months. Clary and Jace had kept it a secret for as long as they could, fearing another misscarrage, but the baby was viable now and they were so excited. Whenever Alec went to visit he'd witness Jace's running around making sure Clary didn't have a thing to do or lift at any given moment while Clary complained that she was pregnant, not ill. The dynamic always made Alec smile.
On one such occasion Alec returned home to Magnus with a strange thought bouncing around his head. Alec had long since kept some clothes and a toothbrush at his boyfriend's place. He slept here more often than not these days.
Time passed and the thought he hadn't realized he'd been mulling over bounced around some more. And then his brother called him from the hospital and thirty minutes later he and Magnus were walking into the maternity ward to meet his new niece.
As Alec held the little baby girl in his arms he realized consciously for the first time what the little bouncing thought wanted.
"She's beautiful, Clary," Alec said with genuine awe.
Everyone had a turn holding the baby. The atmosphere in the room was that of family and belonging. Alec never wanted to leave, but Clary needed rest and eventually he and Magnus went home.
Later that night, Alec turned to his boyfriend and asked. "Do you think maybe one day we might have kids?"
Magnus looked a little taken aback, but smiled. "Yeah Alexander," he said. "I think that is definitely a possibility." He chuckled and added, "I know a few good family lawyers. We could adopt."
"One day," Alec said, smiling back.
"For today though why don't you move in?" Magnus sprang on him. Alec took a moment to register the words before flinging himself into his lover's arms crying out 'yes' as he went.
Caterina and Tobis attended their house warming once Alec had settled in. He'd met her before a few times, but it was at this meeting that he realized he wanted to be her friend. Especially because of her son who Alec adored at once.
"Volunteering us to babysitter, are you?" Magnus had asked once their guests were gone.
"Parent practice," Alec had corrected him.
Being with Magnus had changed Alec's whole world. His creative mind had found a muse. His family dreams had found a home. His soul had found its mate.
And to think none of his current happiness would be possible without the need for a counterfeit boyfriend.